MACo Associate Director Les Knapp supported SB 278 with amendments before the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on February 23.  The bill, sponsored by the Administration, would reconstitute the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development in Maryland, which is set to sunset in December, 2010, into the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission.  The Commission would run until the end of 2020.

Mr. Knapp noted that concerns raised by MACo over the membership and duties of the Commission at the prior House hearing had been addressed through amendments being offered by the Maryland Department of Planning.  He stated that the Maryland Municipal League also supports amendments.

The House Environmental Matters Committee accepted the proposed amendments, but also amended the bill to add four additional representatives from the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan regions.